Marketing Tactics

Target’s second quarter just ended and if the dourest of back-to-school spending forecasts proves correct the company’s expectations for same-store sale growth in the range of 2% to 3% could prove optimistic and its third quarter outlook could come under pressure.

Back-to-school season is underway in Canada and for Target, which opened its first stores in Canada earlier this year, the stakes could not be higher.

Canton, Mass. — Dunkin’ Donuts has opened two new locations at Great Wolf Lodge Resorts in Michigan and Virginia. These are the second and third restaurants to open under a franchising agreement between the donut chain and Great Wolf Resort.

“Our partnerships with Great Wolf Lodge and other lodging properties are a continued focus for our growth in alternative points of distribution,” said Grant Benson, CFE, VP franchising and business development with Dunkin’ Brands.

Peoria, Ill. — Bar Louie Restaurant & Bar has signed for 6,500 sq. ft. at Streets of St. Charles in St. Charles, Mo., according to developer, manager and owner Cullinan Properties. Bar Louie will move into its first floor Phase II space next spring.

Construction of the development’s 400,000-sq.-ft. Phase II will finish up this fall. Phase II will house the retail and entertainment portions of the project as well as additional residential space to complement Phase I.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway and the Safeway Foundation are holding an annual fundraising campaign together with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to support individuals and families affected by muscle disease. 

Target’s EVP of stores, Tina Schiel, and senior group manager of store planning, Nancy Devine, dug through the retailer’s photo archive and weighed in on the company’s evolving design philosophy.

PEORIA, Ill. — Kwikee, a leading provider of free product images as well as nutrition and ingredient information, has created an application programming interface for retailers and e-commerce developers that need information for consumer products. 

The Kwikee API will provide companies with a trusted source of accurate product information and images from the thousands of brands who pay for their product content to be represented in Kwikee's database.

Dodgeville, Wis. – Spending for back-to-school apparel looks strong this year, with more than 95% of parents willing to spend up to $100 just on an outfit for the first day of school. Results of the Lands’ End 2013 Back to School Survey also indicate 92% of parents say a backpack is the single most important back-to-school item for purchase this year.